Mickey Rooney's heaven on earth: Hawaii

The actor Mickey Rooney describes his enduring love for the islands of Hawaii
islands, which he first visited days before the Japanese attack on Pearl
Harbor.

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Mickey Rooney first visited Hawaii more than half a century agoPhoto: PA

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Mickey Rooney usually stays on Maui, in a pretty seaside townPhoto: GETTY IMAGES

By Mickey Rooney

11:20AM GMT 14 Dec 2009

I've been going to Hawaii for more than half a century and still return every couple of years. My first trip was way back in 1941, when I was sent out on a movie publicity tour. Back then, you had to take a boat from San Francisco and it was a four-day journey. Getting there is a bit easier now, thankfully.

That first trip was a real eye-opener – I was only 20 – and we left the islands just two days before the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor.

For the next few years Hawaii was on the front line, but when I eventually got to go back I fell in love with these romantic islands all over again.

A lot has changed, of course, but it's still a really special place. Nowadays, I go with my wife, son and grandchildren – my wife and I actually renewed our wedding vows on a recent visit. We usually stay in Lahaina, a pretty seaside town on Maui, or at the Ritz-Carlton (001 808 669 6200; www.ritzcarlton.com) in nearby Kapalua, a wonderful resort boasting a magnificent ocean setting. The Ritz-Carlton also has lots of places to dine, such as The Banyan Tree, which does terrific sushi, among other wonderful dishes.

The scenery in Hawaii is stunning: if you visit Maui you have to take a drive along the "Hana Highway", a winding road over dozens of bridges through a rainforest. The islands are also a fabulous place to go whale watching – sometimes you can get really close.

I'm not as young as I used to be, obviously, and nowadays the purpose of my visit is just to relax, stroll along the beach and watch the sunset – Hawaii is blessed with the most magnificent sunsets. But you know what? I might have been married for 37 years but Hawaii still seems to put a bit of extra romance back into our lives even after all these years. You can't say that about many places, can you?

Mickey Rooney is playing Baron Hardup in the First Family Entertainment production of 'Cinderella' at the Milton Keynes Theatre, sponsored by Robinsons, until January 17. Tickets available at www.firstfamilyentertainment.co.uk.